Raymond F. Biedenbender

Raymond F. Biedenbender, 84, of Elyria, died on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph in Lorain following a long illness.

Mr. Biedenbender was born in Middletown, on September 24, 1923 and made his home in Elyria since 1961.

He graduated from Hamilton Catholic High School in Hamilton, and the University of Dayton. He also took classes at Bradley University in Peoria, IL and at LCCC.

He was an engineer and a designer of residential heating systems. He worked as a project engineer at Chrysler Airtemp in Dayton, as the assistant chief heating engineer at Meyer Furnace Co. in Peoria, IL, as a project engineer at the Coleman Co. in Wichita, KS and the C. E. Olson – Luxaire – Westinghouse – York International. He finished his career as the chief heating engineer at York International, retiring in 1988.

He was a member of ASME and a member of the Engineering Committee of the GAMA gas furnace division and other professional organizations. He held a patent at Coleman Company and a joint patent of fuel burning equipment also at Coleman Company.

He was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church, St. Jude Holy Name Society, the St. Jude Seniors, the Knights of Columbus #774, the Elyria Men’s Senior Fellowship, and the East Elyria Kiwanis Club.

He enjoyed church activities, family and friends, travel and golf and sports in general.

Mr. Biedenbender is survived by his wife, Dorothy (nee Wilson) of 56 years; daughter, Linda (George) Karaboyias of Plainfield, IL; sons, Mark of Roswell, GA, Jim (Teresa) of Torrance, CA, and Michael (Estela) of Redonda Beach, CA; granddaughters, Michelle Karaboyias of Farmington Hills, IL and Amada Biedenbender of Torrance, CA; foster grandchildren, Jamie and Anthony of Redondo Beach, CA. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Biedenbender of Middletown; and brother, William Henry Biedenbender of Arlington, TX; three nephews, two nieces, and eight grand-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard of Fairfax, VA; and his parents, Henry and Anna Biedenbender.

Friends will be received on Tuesday from 5 to 8 P.M. at the Reichlin Roberts Funeral Home, 327 Cleveland St., Elyria. Funeral services will be on Wednesday at 9:30 A.M. in the funeral home followed by Mass at 10 A. M. at St. Jude Catholic Church, 590 Poplar St., Elyria.

The Rev. Father Frank P. Kosem, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Elyria. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Building Fund or the St. Francis Mission in El Salvador.